Downspout strainer



May 6, 1952 E. E. RAUscH 2,595,538

DowNsPouT STRAINER Filed Aug. 8, 1950 INVENTOR.

fz/GENE @A Us cf/ www@ ATTORNEYS Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATESDOWNSPOUT STRAINER Ohio Application August 8, 1950, Serial No. 178,264

My invention relates to a downspout strainer. It has to do, moreparticularly, with a strainer or trap for use in a downspout or similarpipe to permit free passage of water but to catch or traps leaves,twigs, et cetera, which tend to clog sewer lines.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a strainer or trap ofthe general type indicated which is located in the downspout so that itcan be reached from the ground level, thereby eliminating the necessityof removing and cleaning the usual strainers which are located in thegutters and which are usually so high that ladders are required to reachthem.

Another object of my invention is to providev a strainer or trap whichis easily accessible and which can be removed easily from the downspoutfor dumping the leaves and trash therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide a downspout strainer whichis so designed that it will not interfere with the normal water flowthrough the downspout and will not normally allow leakage of Water fromthe downspout adj acent the strainer.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a downspout straineror trap of the type indicated which includes a strainer member that canbe removed readily when it deteriorates and be replaced with a new one.Y!

Another object of my invention is to provide a downspout strainer ortrap arrangement which is simple and inexpensive and can be readilymounted on the usual sheet metal downspout pipe.

Various other objects will be apparent.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my device mounted on a downspout.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a downspout showing mystrainer in normal operating position therein by full lines and bydotted lines in a position to permit removal and emptying of thestrainer.

Figure 3 shows the U-shaped wire which supports the strainer.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating how the strainer can belocated in a readily accessible position in the downspout.

With reference to the drawingal have illusstrated my device ascomprising a section of sheet metal pipe Iii which is of the same sizeas the downspout with which my device is to 3 Claims. (Cl. 210-99) beassociated. The section IB has slidably mounted thereon for axialmovement a sleeve II. The pipe section io is provided with an elongatedslot or opening I2 which extends onehalf of the circumference of thesection Iil. The axially movable sleeve II is of suicient length tocompletely close the opening I2 when in one position which is determinedby a stop lip I3 formed at one end of the opening I2. It can be slid inthe opposite direction to practically completely expose the opening I2.

Connected to the end of the sleeve Il -which is adjacent opening I2 is aU-shape wire or rod ifi. This wire, which is shown best in Figure 3, hasits outturned ends I5 snapping into diametrically opposed openings I6 inthe sleeve Ii. These outturned ends I 5 will limit sliding movement orsleeve II in opening-uncovering direction by contact with the end ofopening I2, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2.

The lower transverse portion Il of wire I4' is adapted to removablysupport a strainer I8. This strainer i8 is preferably of wire mesh andis provided with a pair of inverted U-shape clips I9 on its bottom whichwill straddle transverse portion I'I of wire I4. The strainer I8 ispreferably of inverted irusto-conical form to facilitate insertion intothe pipe section II). The strainer I8 Will be of less axial length thanthe openingr I2 to permit passage therethrough.

As pointed out above and as illustrated in Figure 4, the strainerarrangement may be located in the downspout D in a convenient locationreadily accessible from the ground level.

The position of strainer I8 in normal use is shown by full lines inFigure 2. In this position, the strainer I8 will be located well belowopening I2 and sleeve II will completely cover the opening, its downwardposition being determined by the outturned lip I3. In this position,strainer I8 will permit downward passage of water but catch leaves,twigs and other trash. Also, opening I2 will be sealed. When it isdesired to remove the trash, the sleeve II is moved vertically onsection I0. The sleeve is moved to its uppermost position, shown bydotted lines in Figure 2 and determined by portions I5 of wire Ilcontacting with the upper end of opening l2. In this position of sleeveII, relative to opening I2, strainer I8 will have its upper edge belowthe lower edge of sleeve II and its lower edge above the lower edge ofopening I2. Thus, the basket strainer I8 can be swung outwardly aboutpivot II and can then be slipped axially oii the pivot. The trash canthen be dumped from the basket strainer and the strainer can be replacedon the pivot I1 or a new basket can be substituted therefor. Then thesleeve I I is lowered to close opening I2 and return strainer I8 to itsnormal functioning position. As the strainer moves downwardly it iscentered in pipe section I@ due to its inverted frusto-conical shape.

My device has many advantages some of which have beenspecicallydiscussed and others of which will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

1. A strainer for use in a downspout comprising a pipe section ofannular cross-section having an opening therein which extends one-halfthe circumference of the pipe section, a sleeve of greater length thansaid opening ntting around the pipe section and mounted for Inovementthereon into and out of covering relationship with said opening, thelower edge of the opening having an outturned lip which limits downwardmovement of the sleeve, strainer member of inverted frusto-conical formattached to said sleeve and movable axially therewith so that it will beopposite the opening when said sleeve is moved into opening-uncoveringposition, said opening being of greater length axially than saidstrainer member, said st ner inember being attached to said sleeve bylJ-shape wire which has its upper ends connected te said sleeve, saidWire having a transverse lo'l tion, and inverted U-shape clips on ebottoni of said strainer member which transverse portion.

2. A strainer according to claim 1 wherein said U-shape wire hasoutturned upper ends which snap into diametrically opposed openings atthe lower end of said sleeve.

3, A strainer for use in a downspout comprisp cring a. pipe section ofannular cross-section having an opening therein which extends at leastone-half the circumference of the pipe section, a sleeve of greaterlength than said opening ntting around the pipe section and mounted foraxial movement thereon into and out of covering relationship with saidopening, the lower edge of the sleeve and the lower edge of the openingbeing provided with stop portions which cooperate to limit downwardmovement of the sleeve, a cup strainer member attached to said sleeveand movable therewith so that it will be opposite the opening when saidsleeve is moved into opening-uncovering position, said opening being ofgreater length axially than said strainer member, said strainer memberbeing attached to said sleeve by a U-shape wire which has its upper endsconnected to said sleeve, said wire having a transverse lower portion,and inverted U-shape clips on the bottom of said strainer member whichstraddle said transverse portion.

EUGENE E. RAUSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fille ofthis patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 417,127 Williams Dec. 10, 1889522,667 Minnemeyer July 10, 1894 602,488 Tice Apr. 19, 1898 1,213,910Saan Jan. 30, 1917 1,230,024 Pritchard June 12, 1917 2,446,256 YoungAug. 3, 1948 FOREGN PATENTS Minnber Country Date 89,295 Switzerland Oct.29, 1914

